David Dale

Dale, David, 1739–1806, Scottish cotton manufacturer and philanthropist. In 1785 he built New Lanark, a cotton mill and model community that provided his employees with good housing and schools. He was succeeded at New Lanark by his son-in-law, Robert Owen, who later made the community world famous. Dale withdrew in 1770 from the Church of Scotland, founding the Old Independents, or Dalites, whom he served as minister.